Skip to content
Log in
Log out
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Commuter Program- Utilizing Other Airlines & Revenue Tickets

Share links

On Friday, October 16, 2026, the Joint Implementation Team (JIT) announced that the Commuter Program, subsections 28.B.4.b., 28.B.4.b.(1)., 28.B.4.b.(2)., and 28.B.4.b.(3). are now implemented.

The contractual Commuter Program provides attendance protections to Flight Attendants when unforeseen circumstances occur while traveling to work, whether by air or by ground transportation.

This article is a summary of the improvements made to commuting by air, which include:

  • Commuting space available on another airline as the primary (first) flight of the two flights required.
  • Commuting on a revenue ticket flight.

 

Commuting on Other Airline

  • The Other Airline can only be the primary (first) flight.
  • United or United Express must be the back-up flight and scheduled to arrive at least 1 hour prior to report time and must have capacity within 24 hours of departure (24-hour lookback).

Required Documentation:

  • Screenshots showing the Other Airline flight has seats available within 24 hours of departure. See the October 16, 2026 Jit message for many examples of required documentation.
    • Airline Website or App
    • Third-Party Travel Websites
    • ID90 Travel
    • My ID Travel
  • Supporting documentation must be submitted to Help Hub within 24 hours of speaking with Crew Scheduling.
    • *Note: In the event of a denial due to insufficient information, a new Help Hub may be submitted within 24 hours of the denial.

If Your Primary Flight Fails:

If you don’t get on the primary flight operated by another airline, call scheduling as soon as possible and be prepared to inform the scheduler of the airline, flight number, scheduled arrival time, and the back-up flight information on United/ United Express.

This information will be noted in your Master Schedule for later review.

If Your Back-Up Flight Fails:

If you don’t get on your back-up flight, call scheduling as soon as possible, who will provide you direction to either continue to try to come in or place a QFA in your line, indicating you qualified for contractual commuter protections.

Within 24 hours of the attempted commute, you must submit the required documentation on the Help Hub form, showing seats were available on the other airline within 24 hours of scheduled departure of the Other Airline flight.

 

Commuting on a Revenue Flight

  • Can purchase any Revenue ticket on United or any other airline, including a myUAdiscount ticket.
  • No back-up flight required.
  • Revenue Flight must be scheduled to arrive at least 1 hour prior to report time.

Required Documentation:

A purchased Ticket must have documentation demonstrating:

  • The email confirmation verifying the purchase of the revenue ticket, which must show both the date and time of the purchase.
  • The boarding pass for the applicable flight.
  • Supporting documentation must be submitted to Help Hub within 24 hours of the applicable commute.

*Note: In the event of insufficient documentation, a new Help Hub may be filed within 24 hours of the denial.

If the revenue flight on United is delayed or canceled and scheduling directs you to continue to try to get to work and there is potential to jumpseat on a subsequent United flight; regarding the No Multiple Bookings company policy:

An exception has been implemented in the company’s No Multiple Bookings Policy permitting Flight Attendants to be awarded the jumpseat (not NRSA) on a subsequent United flight under the following rules:

1. The flight on which the crew member purchased a ticket was delayed and would no longer get the flight attendant to their base by report time; and

2. Another United flight was available to get them to their base by report time; and

3. The crew member was unable to revenue standby on the other flight (e.g., full flight), but was able to utilize their pass travel privileges to travel on the jumpseat; and

4. The crew member reports the violation to Inflight via Help Hub and agrees that they will not seek or receive a refund or any travel credit for the flight on which they purchased a ticket and on which they did not travel.

Note: If there are open cabin seats after the main cabin door is closed, a jumpseat rider may take an open seat.

Remember: When commuting by air, for Commuter Program purposes, when the primary flight, the back-up flight or the revenue flight fails, Flight Attendants must call scheduling as soon as possible..

The JIT message provides many examples of the required documentation and a sample of the Help Hub forms commuters must use to qualify for Commuter Program protections.

You can read the full JIT message published on October 16, 2026 here.

Read all of Section 28 Commuter Program (page 235 of CBA 2026) for complete details of the Commuter Program and the requirements, which include commuting by automobile, bus, train, or public surface transportation.